B'klyn florist to blossom on West Eighth Street

Greenpoint-based Spina De Fiori is opening a shop on the West Village thoroughfare where rents have doubled in the past three years, as shoe stores have given way to a more interesting, diverse retail crowd.

A popular café and floral shop in Greenpoint, Brooklyn is branching out to Manhattan's West Eighth Street. There, it will become just the latest tenant to help transform a quirky corridor, where rents have nearly doubled over the past few years.

Spina De Fiori, popularly known simply as Caffe Spina in Greenpoint, is taking 975 square feet on the first and basement floors at 30 W. Eighth St., at the corner of MacDougal Street, where it will house its floral design and event-planning offices. Spina provides arrangements and plans events for some of the largest corporations in the city. The Brooklyn shop across the river will remain in business.

The five-year deal came in at $150 per square foot, which William Abramson, of Buchbinder & Warren, said is nearly double what the space might have rented for just three years ago.

"Eighth Street has been a commercial corridor in transition," said Mr. Abramson, who represented the landlord, Return to Home, along with his colleague Matthew Olden. What was once a strip largely composed of shoe stores has been replaced by restaurants, including sushi spot Neta and a Stumptown Coffee location.

"It's the heart of the West Village, which is perfect for us," said Paul Tsang-Diaz, chief executive of Spina, who said he was competing with several other interested renters who were all eying the quaint, brick building.

In addition to being closer to his clients, Mr. Tsang-Diaz will help diversify the area, which is largely filled with restaurants.

"This is going to be a great addition, because Spina is a slightly different take on the Village flower and potted plant store," said Esteban Gomez, of Town Residential, who represented the tenant.

The shop, which will be open to the general public, plans to be operational by early June.